Automatically adjustable hair clipper



Sept, 1949. J. GULLONG I 3 3 AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HAIR CLIPPER Filed Oct. 11, 1947 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 91 mum/I012 JZ0 6115072 em. 6, H49 'J. GULLONG 2,4809%) AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HAIR CLIPPER w. mi "2 1' mi an 5i INMNwR.

@, T49. J. GULLONG AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HAIR CLIPPER Filed Oct. 11, 194'? v s Sheets- Sheet 3 F yf J? *u 'r 50 r l h 19 .T

It 45 a? i N; 1 3 I 'l:::: C 1

Patented Sept. 6, 1949 AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HAIR CLIPPER Jacohfiiill ong, Chicago,.lll. .assignor of fifty per cent tdHcnr'y Wehming, Chicago, Ill.

Applicationoctober 11, 1947,: Serial No. 779,394.

(CLEO-@202) 12 Claims! L.

M-y invention relatesto hai r-clip p i1ng; devices, v

An important object of; myjinvention is toprovide a hair-clipping attachment devicethat may be mounted. quickly uponrjany; standard; type of; hair clipper, merely by; making -use of, thelexisting assembly screws inrthe guide plate of; the said hair clipper.- V

A most important objectof my; invention 'isto. provide ahaireclipping attachment device have ing; an automatically; adjustable gauge which is actuated: through a finger (engaged by themoving, arm :of thewhair' clipper,- linked to -a pawl and ratchet meansto. causethe rotation of. a central screw; which, throng-h asecondlinkage means; controls the :angle of. the hinged automatically adjustable gauge, tiltingtheisaid;gaugeto provide a progressively increasin rangie between the. said: automatically adjustable; gauge; and the. hair c ipper guideplate;

A still, further object of my invention is to provide an escapement deviceactuated-byithezcentral screw. whereby, at. regular. intervals, the; said-g escapementdevice will cause thereadiustmenfi 10f; theautomaticallyadjustable gangeas thaclippers are operated,.-thus providing a limit controlrtor the. angle between the said; adj-.ustablewgangepand the clipper.

A still further objectof 'mydnvention is ;to pr-o virle,-in a hair-clipping; attachment device; anade justable lockingmeans whereby;the-haireclipping attachment device may be.rendered inoperatiye, ii-desi-red.

A-jstii-l further object of. my invention; is to provide adjustment means for varying the magnitudecfangularmoaement with each-strokeof ;the moving-arm of the hair .clippen;

A still 7 further object .of my invention. is -;to% provide; a :qu-iclc. andeasy; means of: adjusting the. angle between thejautomatically adjustable gauga t ethe -said hair-clipping.attachment device and the hair clipperat thestart of each cuttingeopeiia tiOH.

Astill furtherpbjectof; my invention is toprovideainair-clippme attachm nt :dev ce t at may; be mass produced :as agunit and thatwmayube atev tached quickly wandreasily to; any-standarduha ii" clipper.

other objects :and advantages inherent-ji my invention willbe disclosed. by ,the. follovdng; -de scription and 'the:@accompawingyillustrations:1in; which like parts are designated bylike} nnmerals'rz and inwhichq Fig. 1 is a perspective: view; of my invention attached :to a-ihair clipperywitmparts cut; away: tosdiscloserits working; mechanism-,1

Fig. 2;is atop or plan view of my invention.

Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view of my invention takensubstantiallyon line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig; 4is a rear view of my invention taken look;- ing in the direction of lines 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary view of my invention, looking. in the direction of line 4a4a on Fig. 3, showing theoperative position of the adjustable locking means.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of my invention. partly .incross section looking in; the direction of line5-5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of my inventionlqoking. in the direction of line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the linkage means comprising a part of my'inventicn I Fig. 8; is a cross sectional View of, a portion ;.of, my invention taken substantiallyon the lines 88, of Fig. 2.

My invention is generally-designated!) and consistsof a lower frame I lL-which is attached-to-the. hair-clipper-guide l l hy-screws l2 on'the bottom; of thehair clipp r. Hingeda pai-rof .ears 13,-. located-one on either side of the frame l0,-ar;e the arms 14 oi the automatically adjustable gauge. liwhich is held-in position slightly-below the said; framelfl. A toothed extension lfi is adjustably; attached to the adjustable gauge 15, by meansof screws- [1. and slots I8 in the said adjustable gauge, and its rearportionistapered and cam bered toprovide a thumb adjustment means-'59;

Mounteduponframe I0 is a block 2! in a cen tral hole '15 of which is su-DDOrtedthe reduced end of an arbor -22 maintained -thereinby a reduced; threaded portion extending through an open: ing in theframe llliand secured thereto by'lock; nuts 23;

A flat 25 on the arbor zz provides attaching means for a ratchet Wheel 2fi-which-isspacedbya washer 16 from --b1ock;2l. A-second washer 'l'l on'the arbor 22 separates the ratchetwh eel2K5; from -a bracket 35 which rotatesfreelythereon; Upon the upper threaded portion 39 .of the arbor 22; a second-ratchet wheel 29 is secured andg-held in place by a shoulderlock nut 3i; An ovoid; shaped washer 33 is mcunted-rotatablvbetween the shoulder lock -nut-3i ahd the 'ratch'etywheel ZQiand is attachedeto the bracket-35pm api-vot pin .34, which serves as a pivoting. IHGQJIISyfQI? a; pawl 32. The tooth of thepawl 325bi1'lg;m3;in tained in contactwith thegteethiof the ratchet. Wheel 29 by springJBgmounted on abracketi35.

One end of av coil spring; 36*is attached to "the; bracket 35 ;v the. other end being held by a pin \31 mounted on the bl0ck,2|; The said SpITing 36'5lS;

maintained in position around the circumference of the ratchet wheel 29 by a semi-circular guard 55 attached to the bracket 35, as shown in Fig. 5. A bent arm M is pivotally attached at 44 to one of two upright posts 43 fixedly set in the block 2!. A linkage means 39 articulately connects the angular bracket 46 on arm 4! to an ear on the bracket 35. An engaging finger 42 is vertically mounted upon the straight portion of the bent arm 4i.

Slidably mounted upon the upright posts 43 by means of sleeves 46 is an escapement assembly frame 47. Two gripping members 56 are pivoted at 48 and held in place by a plate 49 on the top of the frame 47. The gripping members 50 are provided with enlarged mating portions 53, which are threaded at 54 to form a split nut engaging releasably the threaded portion 39 of the rotating arbor 22. A coil spring is mounted between two ears 52 on the handle ends of the two gripping members 56, the said ears 52 also serving as thumb and finger adjusting means for tripping the escapement means provided by the split nut 53 and the screw 35. A U-shaped strap 56 forms a guide slot with the top of the escapement frame 4'! providing a guide and holding means for the tips 55 of the gripping members 56. A knurled cap 51 may be provided for the top of the threaded portion 36 of the arbor 22 when a quick rotary adjustment thereof is desired.

A link 60 is articulately mounted between a pair of spacers 58 mounted upon the extending ends of the frame 41 and held by a pin 59 therethrough. The link 56 passes through a slot 6| in the frame l6 and is articulately attached by pins 62 to the automatically adjustable gauge l5. Two coil springs I9 are attached between the arms E4 on the said adjustable gauge I5 and angles 26 attached to the frame H].

A locking and adjustment means for the hair clipper attachment device is provided and consists of a slot 63 formed in the rear extension 8! of the frame II]. An angle 64 is slidably maintained on said extension 6| by shoulder screw 65, a key 82, and a knurled lock nut 66 extends through the slot 63. Pivotably mounted upon the angle 64 and frictionally maintained, in either an upright operative, or a down and inoperative position, is an engaging arm 61, having attached thereto a manipulating finger 66.

To operate the hair clipping device, the automatically adjustable gauge [5 is set to the desired angle by gripping the ears 52 with the thumb and finger to release the escapement mechanism and allow the said adjustable gauge 1 5 to be manipulated by the thumb adjustment means 69. As illustrated by phantom lines in Fig. 3, this preliminary adjustment is usually to place the toothed extension I6 attached to the automatically adjustable gauge l5 in as close as possible a relationship to the hair clipper guide H at the start of the cutting operation. The toothed extension I6 is placed against the scalp it allow ing the hair II to extend upwardly between the teeth 14, as shown in Fig. 3.

The movable arm 45 of the clipper I6 is manipulated, in the directions of arrow 13 in Fig. 2, causing the hair to be clipped or shorn by the toothed reciprocator blade 12, the said arm 45 being in engagement with the engaging finger 42 of the hair clipping device. Since the engaging finger 42 is connected through the arm 4| and the linkage 39 to the pawl actuating bracket 35, therefore each stroke or movement of the moving member 45 will cause a partial rotation of the ratchet wheel 29 and the arbor 22 to which it is secured, the threaded portion 30 of the said arbor 22 being engaged by the split nut 53 of the escapement mechanism. Therefore, each turn of the arbor 22 will cause an upward movement of the escapement device 41 and, through linkage 66, to the automatically adjustable gauge l5, increasing the angle between thetoothed extension I6 attached thereto and the hair clipping guide H with each movement of the clipper arm 45. The progressive widening of the angle 18 between the automatically adjustable gauge l5 and the hair clipper guide H will provide a tapered cut to the hair, as illustrated in Fig. 3 in phantom and solid lines.

After the tapering has been finished, the angle 18 between the automatically adjustable gauge [5 and the hair clipper guide I I will have reached its widest extension and, since it is desirable to maintain an even cut thereafter, an escapement mechanism has been provided to allow this. The escapement mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 8. Dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 8 show the threads 54 of the split nut 53 in engagement with the threaded portion 30 of the arbor 22. As the arbor 22 is rotated in the manner heretofore described, the escapement mechanism will be raised, thread by thread, until the tension from the springs l9, which are counteractive to the downward pressure of the link 60, becomes greater than the holding means of the coiled spring 5| which, through the gripping members 56, maintains the split nut 53 in threadable contact with the screw 36. When this happens, the threads 54 of the split nut 53 will be forced out of contact with the threaded portion 36 of the arbor 22, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 8.

The tension of the said spring I9 will cause the escape mechanism to drop a distance of one thread on the threaded portion 36 of the said arbor 22, thereupon the threads 54 of the split nut 53 will again be urged into contact with the threaded portion 30 by spring 5l,'thus slightly adjusting the angle 18 between the automatically adjustable gauge l5 and the hair clipper guide II. The ratchet wheel 26, together with the spring-urged pawl 21, which is pivoted at 28 on block 26, prevents backlash of the arbor 22 on which the said ratchet wheel 26 is mounted. This automatic adjustment will be repeated as long as the clipping operation lasts, and is comparable to the manual adjustment made by barbers as they manipulate the barber clippers in cutting hair.

With this hair clipping device both the taper and the even cut of the hair is automatically maintained by the action of the hair clipping device through its automatically adjustable gauge, together with the escapement mechanism, so that an average person'may operate the hair clipping device and obtain results to compare favorably with those of a professional barber.

If it is desirable to operate the hair clipper without making use of the automatic features of the adjustable hair clipping device, the said device may be locked to an inoperative position by means of an adjusting and locking assembly, best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4a, in which the sliding angular bracket 64 is shown locked in two positions. In the position shown in solid lines, the arm 61 is depressed allowing the actuating arm 4|, through its link 39, to provide a maximum arc of rotation to the rotating bracket 35 as the movable clipper arm 45 is manipulated. In the phantom lines, the arm 61 is shown in araised posirag-486,926

tion and the sliding angular bracket Gtis; show-n an adjusted pesitior i'locked by the knurled nut 66; In thisposition the are of rotation of the rotating'bracket 35 is limited to a shorter or more restricted arc reducingthe rate of' angular adjustment-o'f the automatically adjustable gauge l5; 1

Fig. iashowsthej angle set at its outermost point, as in solid-lines in Fig. 4; but with the arm Bl raised to an operative position andwith the actuating arm 4i maintained and lockedat the innermost-position of its articulate movement, so that the engaging finger 42" will not be engaged by the moving arm 45 f thecli'pper. The auto matical-ly adjustable gauge l, however, may'still be adjusted to any desirable angle within its range to provide an even'cut of hair at that adjustrnent. The rear edge of the extension 8| may be notched or marl-zed as at W and BO'for purposes of aligning the sliding angular bracket 64 to its two adjusting and locking positions within theslot63; The adjusting is easilyperformed loosening the knurledcap 66,- sliding the angular bracket 84' to its desirable position and retightening the said cap 66.

Since this hair clipping device, by means of its automatically adjustable gauge and its escapementdevice, automatically provides all of the adjustments andgu-ides necessary in cutting hair; therefore, it should be of the greatest value to non-professional users in enabling them to achieve professional-appearing hair cuts.

Although-I have thus-described my invention with greatparticularity, it will be clear to those persons familiar with the art that the same may be modified throughout a wide range. I, accordingly, do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, but reserve in practice to make any modifications which may come within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed'and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable .to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on'the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted inthe said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with .the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said moti-' vating pawl and'checkpawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by-the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means providedwithsplit nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame, and link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said ad- 1 attachme rmeansmay be secured; escapement means provided with split nut rn r'i en a in the threaded extension ofthe saidarbor, ad-- justable hair gauging means pivotablyattached to the said frame, link means interconnecting the saidescapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means; the said split nut means provided with ripping arm extensions, and spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means iii-engagementwiththe threaded extension of the sa'id" arbor.

3: Automatically adjustable hair clipper at= tachmentmeans comprising, a frame rmovably se'curable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mountedin the said block support and having a threaded extension,- ratchet means 56* cured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and'check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said moti= vatin g pawl and check pawl means, the said link-- age means provided with finger means engageabl by the moving arm of' a hair clipper to which-the said clipper attachmentmeans may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivot'ably at tached tothe said frame, link means intercon' nectingthe said escapem'ent means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, and spring means connecting the said adjustable hair gaugingmeans to anchorage means on the saidfram'e to limit the adjustment of the said adjustable hair gauging means.

4. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame reindvably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardlyon the said frame, an arbor rotatably mountedinthe said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means se cured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by themoving arm of a hair'clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gaugingmeans' pivotablyattached'to the said frame, link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, the said split nut means provided with gripping arm extensions, spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means in engagement with the threadedextension of the said arbor, andspring means connecting the said adjustable hair gaug ing meansto anchorage means on the saidira'rne to limit the adjustment of the said adjustable hair gauging means.

5. Automatically adjustable hair clipper atta'ohment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly'on the said'frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block supportand having a threaded extension, ratchet means se cured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageabl'e by the moving arm-of ahai r dipper to which thesaid clipper attachment means may besecuredjescapementmeans provided-with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame and link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means.

6. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a air clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame and link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, the said split nut means provided with gripping arm extensions, spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means in engagement with the threaded extension of the said arbor, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means.

7. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame. and link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, spring means connecting the said adjustable hair gauging means to anchorage means on the said frame to limit the adjustment of the said adjustable hair gauging means, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means.

8. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hairclipper to which the said clipper attachment'means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extensionof the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame and link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, the said split nut means provided with gripping arm extensions, spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means in engagement with the threaded extension of the said arbor, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means.

9. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame, link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, and further adapted to lock the said motivating pawl and check pawl means in inoperative position.

10. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame, link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, the said split nut means provided with gripping arm extensions, spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means in engagement with the threaded extension of the said arbor, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, and further adapted to lock the said motivating pawl and check pawl means in inoperative position.

11. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the

said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotally attached to the said frame, link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, spring means connecting the said adjustable hair gauging means to anchorage means on the said frame to limit the adjustment of the said adjustable hair gauging means, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, and further adapted to lock the said motivating pawl and check pawl means in inoperative position.

12. Automatically adjustable hair clipper attachment means comprising, a frame removably securable to a hair clipper, a block support mounted rearwardly on the said frame, an arbor rotatably mounted in the said block support and having a threaded extension, ratchet means secured to the said arbor, motivating pawl and check pawl means cooperating with the said ratchet means, linkage means connected to the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, the said linkage means provided with finger means engageable by the moving arm of a hair clipper to which the said clipper attachment means may 10 be secured, escapement means provided with split nut means engaging the threaded extension of the said arbor, adjustable hair gauging means pivotably attached to the said frame, link means interconnecting the said escapement means to the said adjustable hair gauging means, the said split nut means provided with gripping arm extensions, spring means maintaining normally the said split nut means in engagement with the threaded extension of the said arbor, spring means connecting the said adjustable hair gauging means to anchorage means on the said frame to limit the adjustment of the said adjustable hair gauging means, and adjusting and locking means secured to the said frame and adapted to adjust the movement of the said motivating pawl and check pawl means, and further adapted to lock the said motivating pawl and check pawl means in inoperative position.

JACOB GULLONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

